Check Out Seth Whalen’s Story

Hi Seth, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today. 
I always wanted to live in NYC ever since I was a kid and never thought I’d find myself in Dallas. Shoot, I mean, I didn’t even visit Texas until 2014 for a friend’s wedding!

After I graduated from High School in Baltimore from The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, I attended Lynchburg College in Virginia. Upon earning my BA in Marketing, I moved back to Baltimore for about a year while being a server trying to get myself to NYC. My best friend had other plans and convinced me to move to Orlando. Even though that was short-lived, moving south for 6 months ultimately led to me finally moving to the Big City! While I was in Orlando, I got cast in a reality TV show, which helped propel me to New York City. I moved to NYC in 2005 to pursue modeling and acting, but God had other and better plans, much like my best friend did.

Once I was in NYC for just shy of a year, I found myself curating, unknowingly, a large roster of incredible talent that would eventually be the foundation of my first company, PTL STAFFING LLC. As I was pursuing “my dream” in NYC, I was also leading a ministry to the fashion industry called Models for Christ, better known as Paradox to those in NYC. This also helped me generate quality relationships and friendships that just coincidentally fostered the initial Rolodex of talent that was amassing in my Razor phone. My contact list was growing daily as I am a natural connector. My brother, ironically, told me once, “If you could just find a way to monetize your God-given natural ability to connect people, you will thrive.” With that foreshadowing thought and my closest friends pushing me to pursue this entrepreneurial life, clients just started to call. Now, mind you, you got to do “the natural and let God do the supernatural.” This was advice given to me by a modeling friend while I was at a “cattle call” casting of over 500 people. And by the grace of God, I booked that shoot. One of the few big shoots I ever booked, but what was more important than that shoot was that I showed up, did my part, and let God do the rest as He sought fit.

My very first client was referred to me by my very first catering Captain, who now works for me Full-time in the office. They had a bunch of no-shows during this week-long event at SW Studios in NYC that Donna Karan was hosting for the Dalai Lama. The catering Captain told the owner of the catering company that I had a roster full of great staff and was looking to start a staffing business. Needless to say, after a quick prayer, I was able to secure a last-minute replacement within an hour. The one who came to the rescue was one of my 3 roommates at the time. The next day, the same thing happened, and again the next day. After that, I was able to secure that company as my first client and became their go-to staffing company.

From there, in the same week or so, I got a call from another company needing urgent help with their staffing deficiencies. I jumped all over it and began staffing for that company, which eventually became their exclusive staffing source. We worked together from 2006 until the COVID hit, staffing all sorts of high-profile events such as the MET Gala, the CFDA Awards, movie premieres, fashion parties, and shows.

At the time this new business was emerging, I was being screen tested for the soap opera “One Life to Live.” I was 25 at the time being asked to play a 16-year-old on the show whose love interest in the show was only 15 years old in real life! I was in the running with about 20 other “men” who were no older than 20, and most were probably 17 or 18. Needless to say, I didn’t get the role, which was a blessing in disguise because that allowed me the time and opportunity to build my staffing business. I was young and hungry and eager to get life in NYC rolling!

After I had my first company for 3 years, I took a leap of faith and decided to quit taking cater waiter jobs myself, quit going on castings and auditions so I could build my business and not someone else’s. PTL got hired to do the catering, not just the staffing, for its first client in 2010. From there, PTL EVENTS LLC was born, and we started to provide the food, alcohol, and rentals for our events, just not the staff. In 2011, I started a new line of business called “Concierge Greeters,” aka doormen/doorperson. We staffed these Concierge Greeters at high fashion stores such as Saint Laurent, Gucci, Barneys, Dolce & Gabbana, Celine to name a few. This spawned a new business that took the Concierge Greeter concept to a whole new level by elevating this position to a licensed Security Guard that was focused not just on the character of the guard but an aesthetic and polished representation that our client highly sought after. “From the first look to the last, Protect Your Image®.” From there, PTL SECURITY LLC commenced.

Life and business was booming over the next 10 years right up until COVID smacked us all in the face, even if you wore a mask it turns out! Business nearly halted, life was in chaos, but my faith was secure and steadfast. Was their fear and worry, absolutely, but I knew at the end of it, PTL would not only survive, but thrive! But survival doesn’t come without its wounds and bloodshed. I was married at the time with an almost 4-year-old son, our NYC apartment, and quite humble beach abode Out East in Long Island. Lots of bills and no real income, but God, as He does, provided a way. We were able to sell the house quickly in July of 2020, pack up, and move to Dallas, which I thought would only be for 6 months, where we would come back to our NYC apartment once the imminent shutdown of NYC during the winter ran its course. Make plans, they say, but God laughs and directs you elsewhere. Thus, we joined the Mass Texadus.

After the 6 months period culminated, Texas engulfed me, and I found a new home here where life was happening, business was open, and people were affable and similar in mind and spirit to myself. It was refreshing and a welcomed desideratum. Fortunately, in 2015, I visited Texas a second time, but this time it was to build a roster for quality staff for a client needing our Concierge Greeter services. Thus, PTL was already established in the Dallas area and was ready to accelerate that growth now that I was in Dallas. Plus, two of my full-time staff live in Texas, and they were on board in continuing to build the business here. We have a lot of exciting opportunities and avenues of business to show the best of NYC here in Dallas as well as Austin and Houston. We recently catered and staffed the re-opening of the new J. Crew store in NorthPark Mall. Furthermore, one of NYC Concierge Greeter clients is looking for us to provide the same service in their Highland Park boutique. Along with the many other events and brand ambassador gigs we’ve done thus far in Texas, PTL is excited for the growth that is upon us in 2024, all the while Praising the Lord for what He’s done and will continue to do!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say, outside of the COVID debacle and all the nuances and hurdles that went into staffing during the re-opening of the world, our greatest obstacle is keeping up with all the different laws and regulations in each city and state. It’s quite the undertaking to make sure you dot all your “i’s” and cross all your “t’s.” I don’t think it’s possible to be flawless when it comes to all the legislative actions needed. However, we do our best, do right by our staff, and pray that it all works out smoothly.

Another challenge we face as a company is the constant evolution of technology and systems. It’s great to always be streamlining our processes and improving our systems, but it can be quite an undertaking. Especially when we are a small company that does big things. However, it is essential, and we seem to find a way to make it happen. It’s what we do!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
I have 3.

PTL STAFFING LLC

PTL EVENTS LLC

PTL SECURITY LLC